Convertible car.



No. 664,396. Patented lari. l, `mol.

J. OLEAIEY. c'mavERTlBLE CAR.

(Application led July 6, 1898. Renewed Mar. 17, 1859.)

'(Nu Model.)

Patented 1an. s, 190|.

2 'Sheets-Sheet 2.

Ezrafzar @Unteren STATES PATENTJOFFI JOHN OLEARY, OF OOHOES, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANI) MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF'FIVE-SIXTHS TO LE ROY VERMILYEA, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVERTIBLE CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,890, dated January 1, 1901.

Application led July 6, 1898. Renewed March 17, 1899. Serial No. 709,467- (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it muy concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN OLEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cohoes, county of Albany, and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construc- 1o tion and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of an end portion of my improved car. Fig.

zo 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken on the broken line 2 2 in Fig. l looking to the left. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the upper edge of the sash and cap detached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a lower corner portion of one of the panels detached, showing a spring-catch. Fig. 5 is across-section of one of the vertical ribs, taken on the broken line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the broken line 6 6 in Fig. 2.

A is the bottom or floor of the car, and A is the top or roof. The top is connected with the bottom by the supporting vertical posts or ribs A2.

A3 is the usual deck-opening in the top of the car, formed by the vertical deck-walls A4, raised from the inner roof or ceiling A5 and covered by the outer roof A.

shown closed by the sash-panel P and the solid panel P, while the part of the car at the right-hand side is shown open, the respective panels being stored in the storagechamber P3, formed between the inner and outer roofs of the car. The ribs are each provided with a slideway B for the lower or solid panel and a separate slideway B for the up'- per or sash panel. These slideways are preferably separated at the lower end of the sashpanel slideway by the stop B2, which terminates about midway between the upper and lowerends of the rib, and above which the two slideways merge into each other and gradually increase in width and incline inwardly to the top of the car. Just outside the merged slideways I provide a guideway consisting of a groove B3, adapted to receive a' roller P4, rotatively su pported by a stem or bracket P5, secured to and projecting from oneend of the sash-panel.

To change the car from a closed to an open car, it is only necessary to slide the panels upwardly along their slideways in the ribs from the closed position shown on the left in Fig. 2 to the open position shown on the right in the same figure. The roller guides the upper edge of the sash-panel, and the upper edge of the solid panel entering the channel P6 in the cap P7 on the upper edge of the sashpanel is guided thereby. The lower edges of the two panels are supported by a spring-bolt P9, adapted to enter a receiving-socket Ps in the body of the rib. Both of the vertical edges of the panels are supported in the same manner, each edge by its neighboring rib.

As a meansfor concealing and protecting the panels when not in use I provide the storage-chambers P3 by continuing the roof of the raised deck on practically the same curve nearly to the vertical sides of the car, as seen in Fig. 2, Where I provide the vertical ventilator-walls O, and then curving the lower roof-wall C down to the sides of the car in substantiallytheusualmanner. Thesechambers have at the lower edge of the inner roof or ceiling an opening or mouth C2 as wide as the width of the merged panel-slideways at that plane, which mouth is closed when the panels are down by the cap P7 on the upper edge of the sash-panel. The object of closing this mouth of the chamber when the car is closed is to protect thelpassengers from downward drafts of air.-`

As a means for Ventilating the car when closed I connect the usual ven tilator-valves D in the deck-walls with similar valves D in the outer vertical walls of the chamber by means of a link D2, pivoted at its ends to the respective valves, thereby maintaining thewidth such as would make the opening unsightly or conspicuous. By thus extending the guideway in an irregular path, so as to take advantage of the full height of the deckchamber during the rst part of the movement of raising the panels I am able to make use of inflexible, comparatively straight panels, which could not otherwise be done without greatly enlarging the mouth C2 of the chamber. The extreme end of the guideway is depressed or recessed, as at B4, to form a seat for the roller, which automatically holds the upperl end of the upper panel in position until forcibly released.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- A l. In a convertible car, the combination with the decked roof, grooved roof-supporting ribs, and a series of in exble slide-panels vertically movable in the rib-grooves; of a corresponding series of storage-chambers extending from one side of the car approximately to the top of the deck of the car, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible car, the combination with a series of upwardly and inwardly inclined storage-chambers subjacent to the roof of the car; severally provided with oppositelylocated upwardly and inwardly inclined slideways; of a corresponding series of inexible panels vertically movable in slideways in the vertical side walls of the car and severally provided with guides movable in the respective inclined chamber-slideways, substantially as described.

3. In a railway-car, the combination with a chamber extending from the raised deck to the side of the car; of a pair of ventilator-valves, one opening from the chamber through the upper side wall of the car exteriorly of the car, and the other opening from the chamber through the side wall of the deck interiorly ribs, each rib having, 'lower and upper ends, separate slideways for of the car; and a connecting-link between the two valves, substantially as described.v

4. In a convertible car, the combination with a pair of vertically-movable mutuallylapping panels; of a pair of panel-supporting intermediately of its the respective panels, -which slideways merge into each other and gradually increase in width and incline inwardly from the mergingpoint toward the top of the car, substantially as described.

5.` In a convertible car, the combination with a series of upwardly and inwardly inclined storage-chambers, subjacent to the carroof; of a corresponding series of inflexible side panels each vertically movable in slideways gradually increasing in width from a point in the side wall of the car about midway of its top and bottom, to the mouth of the superposed storage-chamber, where they correspond in width with such mouth, and a horizontal projection on the upper edge of a movable panel for closing the mouth of the chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a convertible car, having a decked Y roof, the combination with an incloseddeckchamber extending upwardly and inwardly its outer and lower end with a downwardlyopening mouth, of a guideway extending in an irregular path from a point near the mouth of such chamber in close proximity to the outer and upper wall of such chamber approximately to the top of the deck; panel-sup- V from the side of the car and provided at.

IOO

porting vertical ribs, and an approximately V IOSV IIO

8. In aconvertible open and closed car, the Y combination of the sliding window sashes and panels, one of said parts being formed with an abutment for the other to bear against and for sustaining one part from the other when they are raised, and means for supporting the sashes and panels in the space between the ceiling and roof of the car, substantially as described.

9. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination of the sliding window sashes and panels, one of said parts being formed with an abutment having a recess to receive a portion of the other, so that the parts may be moved together and one be supported from the other when stored in the space between the ceiling and roof of the car, substantially eornbin ation ofthe sliding Window sasbes and panels, members formed With Ways to guide said parts when sliding; a pintle or roller secured to one of said parts; and members formed With ways in the space between the Ceiling aud roof of the ear to receive said pintles or rollers for guiding said parts in said space, substantially as and for the purposes described.

II. In aoonvertible open androlosed oar, the com bination of the sliding Window sashes and panels, means for sustaining said parts in a chamber in the upper part of the ear; and Ventilating-openings formed in the opposite walls of said chamber communicating respectively with the external atmosphere and with the interior of the ear, and communicating with each other through said chamber, substantially as described.

l2. In a convertible open and closed ear, the combination of the sliding Window sashes and panels, means for sustaining said parts in the space between the ceiling and roof of the ear, and Ventilating-openings formed in the ceiling and in the portion of the ear outside of said space and communicating with the space between the Ceiling and roof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of June, 1898.

JOHN OLEARY. Witnesses:

FRANK C. CURTIS, DANIEL F. ONEIL. 

